No. 62.— 1909.] 



DUTCH EMBASSY. 



209 



from Batavia as Lieutenant over his soldiers, and that shortly 

 after he had been appointed Captain and a member of the 

 Council, which appointment had been confirmed by Their 

 Excellencies at Batavia. His Majesty then gave him per- 

 mission to return to his tdndyama and rest, as it was already 

 late and the journey was long and the river difficult to cross, 

 promising to grant him a second audience in a few days' time, 

 when he would receive permission to return to Colombo. At 

 this the Ambassador expressed his thanks, and after making 

 his obeisance backed out of the Hall of Audience with the rest 

 of the chiefs. 



On again approaching the maluwa the Ambassador was 

 conducted to the dining hall* by the Disavas of Sabaragamuwa, 

 Seven Korales, and Four Korales who left him there, when 

 the Gabada Ralas served him with a royal repast ; when this 

 was concluded he came out of the hall and was met by the 

 same chiefs. The Disava of Sabaragamuwa then inquired 

 from him why Wouter Hendricksz, Extraordinary Councillor 

 of India, who had been nominated to this Government by 

 Their Excellencies in India, had sailed past Colombo and gone 

 on to Cochin without landing, and why no information had 

 been sent of his approach before this, and for what reason the 

 expected departure of His present Excellency to Batavia had 

 been notified to the Maha Wasala. The Ambassador explained 

 that the orders of Their Excellencies at Batavia were that 

 His Excellency Wouter Hendricksz should assume duties at 

 Colombo only after completing the mission on which he was 

 despatched to Cochin : adverse winds had, however, compelled 

 him to put in at Galle with his ship somewhat damaged, and 

 he had proceeded from there in another vessel. This had 

 occurred at the very time that the Ambassador was ready to 

 start from Colombo, and therefore he was of opinion His 

 Excellency the Governador had decided to convey the news 

 of the same and of his own impending departure to Batavia 



* This was to the left of the main entrance to the Palace, vide Heyt's 

 account shortly to be published by Mr. J. P. Lewis. There were two 

 distinct entrances, one to the Palace and the other to the Maligawa. 

 The last King built the Maha Wahalkada, and brought round the steps 

 of both entrances to meet it. — H. W. C. 



